Both congressional and state
legislative maps were passed on May 25, 2001.

Whoís in Charge of
Redistricting?

The
legislature is responsible for both plans. If the Oklahoma
Legislature fails to redistrict its state legislative districts,
statute requires the attorney general, state treasurer and
superintendent of public instruction to form an apportionment
board to complete the task. The governor has veto power over
both plans.

Districting
Principles

Principle

Congressional

State
Legis.

Compactness

+

Contiguity

+

Political subdivisions

Communities of interest

+

Cores of prior districts

Protect incumbents

VRA ß 5

+
= required- = prohibited

Public Access

Legislative
committees will hold public hearings before receiving the
census data. Maps of the new state
House districts are available for the
online, and the Senate has its own redistricting
page.

Political Landscape

The
1991 redistricting plan was passed by a nearly unanimous vote in
what was recognized as a bipartisan plan to protect congressional
incumbents. Nevertheless, Democrats lost all four of their U.S.
House seats by 1996, and all current congressional districts tilt
either slightly or strongly to Republicans.

The state will lose a congressional seat in
2001. Since Democrats won a seat in November 2000, they will likely
seek to shore up their incumbent in 2001. The legislature
remains strongly Democratic, but is more conservative than most
federal Democrats. The governor is Republican.

Legal Issues

No
cases.

Irregularly Shaped
District District 2

Irregularly Shaped
District District 5

… Northeast; foothills of the Ozarks; poor and rural

…
Traditionally Democratic, but now swing district which Republicans
can win due in part to influence of Christian conservatives

…
77%
white; 5% black; 17% Native American; 1% Hispanic

… North Centralópart of Oklahoma City

…
The most Republican district in the state, although a plurality of
voters are registered Democrats